Composition for reducing co emission

ABSTRACT

A fuel additive composition which comprises a major amount of white oil and minor amounts of a dialkyl ether, for example diethyl ether, and oil of orange. The fuel additive is effective in substantially reducing the carbon monoxide emission from the combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel in an internal combustion engine while maintaining or even enhancing the fuel economy thereof.

United States Patent [19 1- Johnson [111 3,820,962 [4 June 28, 1974 1 COMPOSITION FOR REDUCING CO EMISSION Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 165,745, July 23,

1971, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl 44/56, 44/58, 44/59 [51] Int. Cl C101 1/02 [58] Field of Search 214/56, 58, 59

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,165,462 12/1915 Stevens 44/56 8/1921 Stevens ..44/56 11/1947 Goodale ..44/56 Primary Examiner-Patrick P. Garvin Assistant Examiner-Andrew H. Metz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stewart and Kolasch, Ltd.

1 5 ABSTRACT A fuel additive composition which comprises a major amount of white oil and minor amounts of a dialkyl ether, for example diethyl ether, and oil of orange. 7

The fuel additive is effective in substantially reducing the carbon monoxide emission from the combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel in an internal combustion engine while maintaining or even enhancing the fuel economy thereof.

7 Claims, N0 Drawings 1 COMPOSITION FOR REDUCING CO EMISSION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 165,745, filed on July 23, 197 i, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a hydrocarbon fuel additive for reducing the air pollution caused by the combustion of such fuels in various types of engines. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a gasoline additive for reducing the carbon monoxide content of emissions caused by an internal combustion engine.

It is well known that emissions from engines in general, and internal combustion engines in particular, contribute greatly to the pollution of the environment. Various steps have been taken in an attempt to eliminate or at least reduce the pollutants and toxic components from exhaust gas emissions. The approaches which have been taken include, for example, treating the exhaust gases after combustion or introducing additives to the hydrocarbon fuel prior to combustion. Although, in some cases, advantageous results have been achieved, these results have frequently been accompanied by adverse effects, such as a reduction in the fuel economy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to avoid the prior art disadvantages. in the control of air pollution caused by the emissions from various combustion engines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an. improved hydrocarbon fueladditive, for example, a gasoline or diesel fuel additive, for reducing the amount of air pollution caused by the emissions of an internal combustion engine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gasoline or diesel fuel additive which reduces the carbon monoxide emission from an internal combustion engine while maintaining or even improving the fuel economy.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood. however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodi ments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that the above-mentioned disadvantages may be eliminated and a much improved reduction in the air pollution caused by the emissions from a combustion engine'can be achieved by adding to the hydrocarbon fuel used in said engine composition comprising white oil, a dialkyl ether and oil of orange. It has been found that by adding the above composition to a hydrocarbon fuel, such as gasoline or diesel fuel, the carbon monoxide content of the emissions caused by the combustion of the fuel in an engine, for example, an internal combustion engine, can be reduced in an amount up to about 35 percent and in some instances even higher. The hydrocarbon fuel additive is added to the fuel in an effective amount up to about .2 percent by volume of 'major constituent of the fuel additive of the present invention. White mineral oils which may be used advantageously in the composition of the invention are obtained in a known manner by, for example, acidtreatment refining of crude oils to remove all unsaturated aliphatic, heterocyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons and other impurities therefrom to give pure, clear water-white oils. As noted above, these white oils are known products having the following typical characteristics:

Specific gravity:

(at 60F.) Saybolt viscosity: (15/75 (at F.) Odor and Taste: None Pour Point: 20F.

The ether constituent of the fuel additive of the present invention is a dialkyl ether, preferably USP grade,

having from one to four carbon atoms in the alkyl groups thereof including, for example, diethyl ether, dimethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, methyl n-butyl ether, ethyl n-butyl ether and the like. The preferred ether is diethyl ether. The ether is present in the fuel additive in an amount of about 1 "to 4 percent by volume, advantageously about 2'percent by volume, based on the total volume of the additive composition.

The oil of orange constituent of the fuel additive composition of the present invention is a commercially availableproduct which comprises terpene limonene (also known as dipentene or p-metha-l ,S-diene). The oil of orange is present in the fuel additive in an amount of about 0.02 to 0.1 percent by volume, preferably about 0.04 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the additive composition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following examples are given merely as illustrative of the present invention and are not to be considered as limiting.

A fuel additive composition comprising 100 gallons of white mineral oil, 2 gallons of diethyl ether and 5 fluid ounces of Messina oil of orange was mixed and then tested in accordance with the following procedure.

Five exhaust emission tests were conducted as out lined in the procedures specified in the Federal Register, Volume 33, Number I08, Control of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles and New Motor Vehicle Engines, but without the twelve hour cold soak, and measuring only the last two or hot cycles.

The first test was performed using Indolene No. 30 0 tests 2 through 5, respectively, were: 16, 32, 32 and 64 ml. Tests 4 and 5 were performed with one quart of the additive added to the crankcase oil.

Fuel consumption at 30 and 50 miles per hour was measured following each exhaust emission test. The measurements were made by equilibrating the engine at the desired speed and measuring the time required to consume 620 ml. of test fuel.

The test vehicle was a 1969 Toronado having an automatic transmission, a Rochester 4 bbl. carburetor, and an eight cylinder 455 CID engine. The vehicle was tested on a chassis dynamometer having settings of 4,000 pounds inertia wheel weight and eight road horsepower at 50 miles per hour.

Corrected and weighted exhaust emissions are summarized in Table 1. Fuel consumption data are summazed in ble TABLE 1 equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A normally liquid hydrocarbon fuel additive composition which comprises a major amount of white oil, about 1 to 4 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the composition, of a dialkyl ether having from one to four carbon atoms in the alkyl groups thereof, and about 0.02 to 0.1 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the composition, of oil of orange.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ether is present in the fuel additive in an amount of about 2 percent by volume.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the ether is diethyl ether.

4. The composition of claim 2, wherein the oil of o ta e.i tnrese tinth selflds it in !n9. mt.

CORRECTED AND WEIGHTED HOT START EMISSIONS Ml. Additive Per Crankcase HC CO Test Fuel 4,000 ml. Fuel Additive (p.p.m.)

l lndolene 30 O 295 .80

2 lndolene 30 16 0 301 .64

3 lndolene 30 32 0 293 .54

4 lndolene 30 32 1 Quart 297 .62

5 lndolene 64 l Quart 293 .67

TABLE 2 FUEL CONSUMPTION Time Required to Consume 620 ml. of Test F ue l( egonds) Ml. Additive Per Crankcase Test Fuel 4,000 ml. Fuel Additive 30 mph 50 mph 1 lndolene 30 0 0 369.8, 369.6 206.8, 208.0

2 lndolene 30 16 0 368.0 200.2

3 lndolene 30 32 0 364.0 210.6

4 lndolene 30 32 l Quart 357.0 205.0

5 1 Quart 365.0 211.6

lndolene 30 64 The results shown in Table 1 indicate that the carbon monoxide content of emissions caused by an internal combustion engine is substantially reduced by the addition of the composition of the present invention to the fuel. Table 2 shows that the time required to consume the fuel is only slightly affected by theuse of the fuel additive of the present invention.

Similar results are obtained using gasoline and diesel fuel additive compositions containing about 1 to 4 gallons of dialkyl ether (1-4 percent by volume) and about 2 to 10 fluid ounces of oil of orange (0.02-0.1 percent by volume) per 100 gallons of white oil. Surprisingly, the fuel economy, i.e., mileage obtained per gallon of fuel consumed, is at least the same or even improved with respect to the use of the fuel alone.

Since the modifications of this invention will be apparent to'those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constitution shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and about 0.04 percent by volume.

5. A gasoline or diesel fuel additive composition which comprises about gallons of white mineral oil, about 2 gallons of diethyl ether and about 5 fluid ounces of oil of orange.

6. A fuel composition which exhibits a reduction in the carbon monoxide emission produced by the cornbustion of said fuel in an internal combustion engine which comprises gasoline or diesel fuel and an effective amount up to about 2 percent by volumeof a fuel additive comprising a major amount of white mineral oil, about 1 to 4 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the additive, of diethyl ether and about 0.02 to 0.1 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the additive, of oil of orange.

7. The fuel composition of claim 6, wherein the fuel contains about 0.4 to 1.6 percent by volume of said additive. 

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ether is present in the fuel additive in an amount of about 2 percent by volume.
 3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the ether is diethyl ether.
 4. The composition of claim 2, wherein the oil of orange is present in the fuel additive in an amount of about 0.04 percent by volume.
 5. A gasoline or diesel fuel additive composition which comprises about 100 gallons of white mineral oil, about 2 gallons of diethyl ether and about 5 fluid ounces of oil of orange.
 6. A fuel composition which exhibits a reduction in the carbon monoxide emission produced by the combustion of said fuel in an internal combustion engine which comprises gasoline or diesel fuel and an effective amount up to about 2 percent by volume of a fuel additive comprising a major amount of white mineral oil, about 1 to 4 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the additive, of diethyl ether and about 0.02 to 0.1 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the additive, of oil of orange.
 7. The fuel composition of claim 6, wherein the fuel containS about 0.4 to 1.6 percent by volume of said additive. 